In this highly media-intensive phase, in which we are bombarded by newspapers, magazines, television and radio programs, the issue of censorship inevitably comes into play. Censorship has always been considered a dirty word, coming from the Latin for “censor” or “tax collector.” In the legal sense, censorship is the government suppression of speech. In a broader sense, it refers to private institutions or individuals who do the same thing; suppress content they find undesirable. Censorship has been practiced by governments and the press since the beginning of time. But is censorship ever justified? Self-censorship is the act of censoring or suppressing one's work out of fear, deference, or the sensitivity of others, without explicit pressure from any party or institution of specific authority. Self-censorship is often practiced by media, journalists, politicians and authors. Self-censorship operates more subtly than censorship, often disguised as personal opinion or moral imperative, but no matter how it may be disguised, the result still remains the same: the range of what we can say, feel, think, and even imagine is restricted. Of the many debates about self-censorship in recent years, none have opened with a public official saying, “This material is censored.” Instead, the standard opening talking point is “This is uncensored, we don't self-censor, nor do we censor,” followed by “We need to protect children who might see it”; “We can't spend taxpayers' money supporting work that might offend.” The current favorite disguises of self-censorship are “protecting children” and exercising “respect for religious and cultural beliefs and sensitivities,” both laudable goals and, for that matter, perfect disguises… middle of paper. .. ...more and more are curbing their journalistic instincts and writing what they think their political superiors would prefer to read. Given the circumstances of real threat that exist, it is easy to understand why freedom of expression is not exercised sufficiently in some parts of the world. Self-censorship has its roots in “conformity constraints.” These constraints are defined by the International Press Institute as “fear of going against social expectations”. Almost everyone censors their work to some extent, on a personal level this is described as "tact". When the constraints of conformity influence communication beyond the personal, they become a means through which self-censorship is subtly extended and reinforced. In most people there is a natural desire not to attract unfavorable comments and possibly the social isolation that can result